Residents throughout the borough, have complained to me that after they have reported planning breaches to Harrow Borough Council’s planning department, or have sought assessments for adult care placements, the council officials have not communicated with them properly, despite repeated attempts to obtain a response, One cause of this is simply a lack of courtesy and the idea that somehow the council is doing our residents a favour to treat them with respect and respond to their enquiries in a timely manner.

The delay in response times and general lack of communication causes people unnecessary stress and anxiety.

People quickly develop a lack of confidence that the council is failing to take their problems seriously.

This is usually when they get in touch with their councillors. However, as a councillor myself, I am finding it increasingly difficult to obtain information on behalf of residents.

I have had to repeatedly send reminder emails and on occasion, put in a phone call to the senior council officers to let them know that their staff are not performing well in this respect.

To say it is frustrating, time-consuming and frankly an embarrassment is an understatement.

With the exception of the refuse collection team and certain very responsive officers in highways, I can honestly say that since 1998 when I was first elected, I cannot remember a time when it has been so hard to find out what is going on and be able to revert to people accordingly.

This won’t do and something needs to be done about it as a matter of urgency.

The current Labour administration is insisting it needs a costly chief executive position back at the council — as if somehow this will improve the lot of the people of Harrow — when what is desperately needed more than anything else, is for the cabinet members to get a grip on their departments and show some backbone and true leadership, because at the moment Harrow residents are being let down.

Cllr Marilyn Ashton

Con/Stanmore Park ward, Harrow Borough Council